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POLICING IN CRISIS: SAPS fires Feroz Khan as criminal case, Madlanga probe continue
🇿🇦 South Africa /Crime & Justice

POLICING IN CRISIS: SAPS fires Feroz Khan as criminal case, Madlanga probe continue

From Daily Maverick · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • SAPS dismissed Crime Intelligence deputy head Major General Feroz Khan after he failed to attend an expedited disciplinary hearing.
  • Khan remains accused in a criminal case linked to an alleged intervention in an OR Tambo Airport gold investigation and faces allegations before the Madlanga Commission.
  • The allegations include interference in police investigations, facilitating tenders and passing confidential information to EFF leader Julius Malema, who has denied protecting Khan.

Major General Feroz Khan has lost his position in the South African Police Service after failing to appear for an expedited disciplinary hearing, but his legal troubles are continuing on two other fronts.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed Khan’s dismissal on 2 September. She said he was “deemed dismissed” under Regulation 9(7)(b) of the SAPS Discipline Regulations after failing to attend proceedings before the senior officer assigned to handle the case. The Labour Court had already rejected Khan’s urgent attempt to stop the disciplinary process.

“SAPS reiterates its commitment to accountability, discipline and professional conduct within the organisation,” Mathe said. She added that no police member, regardless of rank or position, stands above the law or the disciplinary framework.

deemed dismissed

— Athlenda MatheThe SAPS spokesperson described Khan’s status under the disciplinary regulations.

Khan remains before the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court in a case stemming from a May 2021 incident at OR Tambo International Airport. He was arrested in May with Gauteng Hawks head Major General Ebrahim Kadwa and businessman Tariq Downes over allegations involving the unlawful possession of precious metals and defeating the ends of justice.

Prosecutors allege that Downes was found carrying 75.9 grams of unwrought gold and claimed he was conducting an undercover operation. They say Khan and Kadwa intervened to secure his release even though no such operation had been authorised. Khan and his co-accused received R20,000 bail, and the case remains pending.

At the Madlanga Commission, witnesses have made broader allegations about Khan’s conduct in Crime Intelligence. Lieutenant Colonel Nkoana Joseph Sebola said Khan’s involvement in a 2021 Aeroton cocaine seizure was unusual and that he interfered with the investigation. Evidence leaders have also presented WhatsApp messages and other material from Khan’s devices, alleging that he helped tobacco businessman Mohamed “Mo” Sayed obtain tenders. Khan has not yet testified before the commission. Khan has also been accused of passing confidential police information to Julius Malema through Sayed and drafting parliamentary questions for him. Malema acknowledged knowing Khan and contacting Sayed after Khan was shot, but denied offering political protection or interfering with parliamentary oversight.

SAPS reiterates its commitment to accountability, discipline and professional conduct within the organisation.

— Athlenda MatheShe explained the service’s position after Khan failed to attend the hearing.
About this summary

Originally published by Daily Maverick. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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